My puppy fell off of my deck and hit his head and his entire right side on a slab of concrete. He let out a huge yelp and started limping.  I went here because I remembered it from all the time I spent driving on Troy schenectady road.  The wait wasn't bad at all, the service was very good out front.  They put me away from everyone else because my puppy didn't have all of his vaccinations yet.  Very kind of them and the right thing to do.  Dr. Robin Karfunkel was fantastic. My pup hadnt been to the vet yet he was due for his first checkup 3 days later.  This was his first time since the breeder took him and his first time with me.  She was so good with him, and reassured me he would be OK and that if he acted funny to bring him back to be evaluated.  They fax everything to your vet so you don't have to worry about getting records sent over! Read Less

I wanted to take the time to share my experiencehere as I don't feel they are deserving of the poor reviews I've read.I understand everyone's experience is different but I don't agree with some of the comments about the vets having a poor bedside manner especially when the most important thing is the medical care your pet receives which in my case was nothing short of top notch.All of the staff and drs at this hospital are very professional,caring,patient and above & beyond accommodating.My ex was in a very tight financial situation and they still delivered quality care and customer service to his cat which is why I find it hard to believe some of the negative reviews on here are 100% accurate.I want to Thank all of the drs & staff for being so patient as well as taking such great care of tigger!I would highly recommend this hospital to anyone in need of emergency care for their pet.This place is  Outstanding!Thank you for everything:) Read Less

I brought my beloved Luna in for a ruptured mass in the spleen, they took her in quickly, went over everything very thoroughly from options/ procedures and the bill. Answered all my questions and made us feel at ease.They took excellent care of her even sitting and snuggling with her after surgery, coaxing her to eat with a smorgasbord of food. Her life was definitely saved that night and I appreciate each and everyone of you in your role to care for our dog Luna!! Read Less

I have brought my dog here three times but this third visit was different. My dog had Avery bad seizure so upon my arrival, I stated that she was currently having a seizure. Someone came rushing from the back and took my dog while I filled out paperwork. About 15 minutes later, someone else comes out and asks me what happened. This person was not personable and did not utilize effective listening. I know she wasn’t paying attention to a word I was saying - although she as taking notes - because the doctor (who also wasn’t very personable) stated that my dog had three seizures when she only had one. Anyway, fast forward to after I have decided to have them give her medicine for nausea and to break up cluster seizures.. I was waiting in the waiting room for my dog to be discharged for almost an hour and a half! It wasn’t that busy when I got there so I have no clue why it took so long and still wouldn’t know why because nobody provided an update. When they finally bring my dog out, I see that both her front legs are partially shaved, with one leg still with a bandage on her. I bring her home and take off the bandage and check the other leg and see that her left front leg looks a little more red than the other leg and was shaved closer to her skin than the other leg was. I think nothing of it until the next day my dog is licking at the left leg. I touch it and feel that it is sticky. Since I stayed home that day, I noticed my dog wasn’t licking as much as she was the following day. I decided to put a little coconut oil on the left leg to try and get the adhesive off of it. I went to work and Talia (who is probably the most friendliest staff member working there besides the overnight staff) called to check on Cali. I told her what was going on with her leg and she told me to try coconut oil or olive oil. I get home and try the olive oil but notice that my dog’s leg looks a lot more red than before. I called again and spoke with Gabby. She asked me if my dog had a cone on her and I said no. She told me that if anything is put on her leg for treatment she would need a cone. She didn’t tell me where to get a cone and didn’t suggest bringing her in. Well, today, I couldn’t take it anymore. My dog was - and still is - in pain from either the staff in the back shaving her hair too close to the skin or ripping off the tape that was holding her IV, which in turn ripped her skin. I had called and spoke with Elaine. I asked if I should bring her in and she said yes. I said “OKAY, I AM GOING TO BRING HER”. When I arrived, I noticed a lot of cars there and figured since I called ahead of time and the injury was the fault of the hospital’s staff they would see Cali immediately. Not the case. The heavy set lady with the short blond hair greeted me but with stress. I said I’m here with Cali, I called earlier. She asked who I spoke to and I told her. She asked what was going on and I told her. She asked if I had put anything on it and I told her. She then proceeded to say that the dog would need a cone so she wouldn’t lick the wound. I got that information already but I was there because my dog is not herself and in a lot of pain. She then proceeds to tell me that the wait would be HOURS. If I had said I was bringing my dog there on the phone, wouldn’t you have said okay but there is a significant wait time? I really enjoyed coming to this emergency pet hospital but after the ordeal that I am still going through - keeping my dog comfortable until I can bring her to her vet, spending more money because of the staff’s negligence, and putting the recommended ointment on the injury which I think is making it worse - I will probably reconsider bringing her back. I’m very disappointed at the response of the hospital regarding the discomfort and pain they cause of my dog. Read Less

last night i took my 7 week old puppy "Henny Bear" to the vet she was having a hard time breathing they rushed her onto a IV then they sedated her to give her a x-ray and told me she had fluid around her heart, that she was passing away... that was very heart breaking because it felt like they didn't want to do anything to help her besides laying her to sleep. they never showed me the X-ray of her heart and they euthanized her. i don't recommend this hospital they wanted 120$ upfront to look at my puppy who carries cash around when a emergency happens. they wouldn't let me take her home so i can be with her when she passed they just wanted to get paid to check her and get paid to put her to sleep. there were plenty of things they could've tried to do , we could've took her to a second option Read Less

Although it's never a good occasion when you have to rush here BUT! The staff makes your visit alot more comforting the are all very attentive and patient with your pet/family member they definitely listen to you and treat ur pet/family. Member as special as you do I only wish they accepted regular visits not just emergencies veterinarian Jennifer Roger's is my hero ☺ my dog thanks u Read Less

Our senior (11 year old) dog had an Emergency a couple days ago & as a family on a fixed income, we had no money. They told us, if we could bring $25 they would take her & look at her. We got the $25 & brought her in, they LOVED her & even told us to keep the $25 for her regular vet follow up she will need. I would recommend these people to anyone. Even with my girl not feeling well they got her to come out of her shell a little bit & played with her in the back while they were examining her. These are the types of vets I want for my pets. The ones that do it because they love animals & want to help. The ones that can understand everyone's situation. PS-My girl is doing well, though still tired & has a follow up with her regular vet in 6 days.Read Less

I recently had to take my cat to the Capital District Vet Referral Hospital and we saw Dr. Jennie Gavin. Dr. Gavin was INCREDIBLE. She had a sweet touch with my cat. She was kind, supportive, and patient. I recognize in an emergency hospital you can't really choose a specific veterinarian doctor, but the fact that this place employs someone like her speaks volumes. The hospital itself was clean with a nice layout and available rooms. Read Less

It was a Sunday, and my regular vet wasn't open.  My indoor cat wasn't feeling well and acting "off", so I called ahead and was told it would be a minimum of $120 just for the vet to look at him.  I arrived, and it wasn't busy--there were only a couple cars in the parking lot, and the waiting room had maybe 1 person there. They brought me into an exam room, and we waited.  Someone came in (maybe a vet tech?) and said the vet would be with us shortly, and I gave the symptoms, and everything she needed to know to tell the vet. When the vet came in, I had to reiterate everything. Then they said they couldn't find anything wrong, and they should do some tests.  They said the bloodwork plus the check-up would be approximately $601, but it was only an estimate, and I had to sign a form that said I would pay the bill. Of course I agreed, and they took my cat, and I sat and waited for 1.5 hours in that exam room.  Finally the vet came in and suggested he might have a virus, and that his white cell count was low, and suggested we put him on an antibiotic and laxative to help, just in case he catches a bacterial infection (again, he's an indoor cat, so not sure how that would happen, but whatever). Then she said, "well, we could test his urine but that would be another charge" (um, what?). I said no, at this point we had already been there for over 2 hours and just wanted to get my cat home. She told me that I should bring my cat to his regular vet that upcoming week, so his regular vet can check him out. (In my mind I'm thinking, well, what kind of a vet are you?). So I waited another 1/2 hour for the vet to come back and ask where my cat was, and I said I don't know - you have him, then it was a to-do while she went back to figure out where my cat was. It certainly didn't sit well with me. Finally I was able to leave the exam room, but now I had to wait another 30+ minutes in the waiting room for the vet to write out the diagnosis and medication and then someone finally came out and got me, (maybe another vet tech?) and I had to go into a little room in the back so another she could tell me how to give the medication. Then I had to go back to the waiting room and wait another 15-20 minutes so I could finally pay the bill.  I ended up being charged over $700 because the medicine was almost $100 and the initial amount was only an estimate. Overall, I don't feel this establishment had my pets (or mine) best interest at heart. They put a lot of emphasis on billing and how much things cost, with a bedside manner that leaves a lot to be desired.  It's almost as though they only care about money and not so much your pets' health.I don't recommend this establishment. Read Less

I wasn't unaware that lillies were poisonous for cats. For whatever reason I couldn't sleep and I sat in the couch to see my cat Tutter eating the philo of a lily. I googled it and realized it can cause kidney failure. I called my vet and they told me to bring him to the ER asap which I dreaded hearing because I knew it was going to be super expensive but whatever it costs for our animals. I first called the ER vet on Sparrow Bush Rd and was told I have to call the ASPCA poison control to report it and I would need a case number before they would let me bring him in. Oh and to have a debit card handy cuz it's a $65 call. What?!?!?!?!!! She said they need it so they can know the best way to treat. I said if you don't know how to treat a cat that ingested a lily without calling someone for advice then you're not touching my cat sooo I went here instead. Immediately the staff was SUPER friendly. Talia and Elaine were at the front desk and they were very helpful and very sweet. Any time I had a question they would ask the vet if they couldn't answer and they were always fine with getting up and asking. Some places treat you like you're annoying them so I was very grateful for this. The vet had a critical care patient so I did have to wait a few hours in the waiting room but they had people working on my cat. The vet tech Erin was a doll and so helpful and sweet. The entire staff was amazing. The Dr came in to talk to me and explained everything and said the prognosis was good since I got him in right away but he is expected to be fine. Hopefully all goes well and if anything changes I will post and update but my experience so far has been great. Make sure you bring your check book, debit card, cash etc cuz it is NOT cheap and I mean it's probably gonna cost more the your rent/mortgage payment. It's not just this place though. All ER vets are insanely expensive. Also a side note. This place is not a first come first serve. They treat it as triage meaning the most severe cases are seen first. Just like an ER for humans. You could be waiting for 30 mins or today I waited 3 hours before The Dr spoke to me and was there for 4 hours. My cat was taken almost immediately though. Read Less

I loved the experience. I took my 6 1/2 Cane Corso Mix here last night. The staff was extremely helpful and they made myself and pup feel right at home. They gave him snacks and showed him a tremendous amount of love. He was very a happy pup the entire time although still a little nervous as he doesn't like vet visits too much. When the vet took him in the back, he came back extremely happy. I would recommend this place to anyone in the capital district. Read Less

I brought my cat into the office a few weeks ago. He wasn't acting himself and I just felt something was off. They took him right in and did a physical examination which didn't show anything alarming other than he didn't seem to feel well. With my permission they drew blood and the results showed he was in severe kidney failure. Dr. Rachel Hannum was the vet who examined him and provided me with the blood test results. She recommended he be admitted so he could begin an IV drip and antibiotics. She was understandably very guarded regarding his prognosis because cats with such high levels generally don't bounce back from this (upon later research I found out many cats do). Upon admitting him I was told they wouldn't treat him with any medications or do any procedures without consulting me, unless it was a critical emergency. They also said I would be contacted the next morning from 7-11 AM. The hours of 7-11 AM came and went the next morning with no update. I then called to see how he was doing and they said he was resting and would re-test his blood that evening. In the meantime, I went to go visit him. He was understandably terrified and was cowering in his litter box. However, he perked right up as soon as I opened the cage. He got up to walk around, use the litterbox and eat some food. This was a vast improvement from the day before. Dr. Hannum stopped over to visit with us. I was excited to see he had more life in him and expressed that to the doctor. She just shrugged her shoulders and said he's hiding his illness well. She also mentioned that they would re-test his blood that evening but things were not looking good, which was frustrating to hear given he was acting so much better than the night before. Later that night Dr. Hannum did call me and reported his values did decrease but they were still high and I should consider euthanasia. However, when I admitted him the night before Dr. Hannum said they would be sending out a urine culture to see if an infection is present and those results could take a few days. One day later she is recommending he be put to sleep despite the fact she didn't have his culture results. At that time I advised her to keep him on fluids. I decided to call his vet first thing the next morning to discuss transferring him to another hospital where they wouldn't be so quick to put him to sleep despite not having critical test results. His vet recommended that I bring him home to administer fluids and medication to him in a comfortable environment. One week after I took him away from that hospital, his kidney values decreased 5 times from what they were! He has been getting continued care from his vet and is a happy guy. I am so thankful that I did not listen to Dr. Hannum's continued suggestions of putting him down. While I am thankful I took him there when I did, I am horrified at Dr. Hannum's approach. Anytime I would ask her a question she would just shrug her shoulders and shake her head. I understand being guarded especially considering his kidney values were at a lethal level, but she didn't even want to help me fight this battle for him. It was very discouraging. Again, I'm so thankful I consulted with his vet and listened to my gut. My cat showed me he wasn't ready to go just yet during my visit with him. If you ever have to go here, please, please, PLEASE consult with your regular vet and listen to your gut before making an irreversible decision. I forgot to mention that they put my cat on morphine the next morning, something I DID  NOT consent to. I was never called regarding the administration of pain killers and of course was charged for 2 doses. Lastly, I hope this review is read by the hospital (especially Dr. Hannum) so that she can think twice about bedside manner. Just shrugging your shoulders, looking dumbfounded and suggesting euthanasia when other results have not come in does not provide one with a strong vote of confidence when a member of their family is ill and in her care. I will be taking my animals to another ER clinic if another emergency arises. Read Less

While we were visiting from out of state our 15 yr old pug mix had seizures and let us know it was time to leave us. The vet was extremely compassionate and wanted to know about her personality. He treated her and us with care and respect. They returned her to us in a casket with her collar and paw prints on top. They never tried to push any other treatment on us. They have us the time to say our goodbyes. Read Less

My pup, Marcel, lost his eye because my former vet didn't catch his dry eye in spite of numerous visits, clear symptoms, and my own concerns. I know now that it's important to bring in specialists for such issues, as I finally listened to my gut and found Dr. Lackner when Marcel's remaining eye began to show identical symptoms (all ophthalmologists in my area were unavailable - Dr. Lackner was available as soon as Monday - I was calling around on Friday). Although she's a little lacking in bedside manner, Dr. Lackner is a capable ophthalmologist and she saved Marcel's remaining eye with a graft before it ruptured. I am so happy I found her in time and saving Marcel's sight was well worth the two hour drive. Additionally, the staff is lovely to work with - though don't expect personal attention from the specialists. I only spoke with techs and office staff besides the initial visit, even when I called with a major concern. Not a cheap place, but Dr. Lackner and CDVRH is worth it if you are looking for a capable ophthalmologist. Read Less

My dog attacked a porcupine at 6 am and we arrived around 7 am, I never felt more confident in a Vet. He had quills lodged in his throat, tongue and all over the outside of his face. They took our young Rotty in right away and he was out in less than 2 hours (he had to be put under anesthesia). Staff was very responsive, helpful and knowledgeable. When I first called they asked where I live because they were trying to find the closet Vet to us, I thought that was very nice of them. This was our first encounter with the ER Vet and can't say it will be the last, but I now feel very comfortable with this place. AMAZING experience. Thank you!!!! Read Less

Update: they called to check on Berner today !!!! He's doing great by the way! Day after Emergency Visit: Excellent emergency care facility. I never HOPE to return, but if my dog needs Emergency Services again I WILL return to this location. My dog was hit by a car that ran a red light. In my moment of panic they calmly got info, expected my pups arrival and even provided their address clearly so I could get there ASAP and they were ready for us ! Competent staff, Dr Gavin (?) was AMAZING. Kept us updated kept my dog safe. At the end of the night we all went home safe and I was so thankful that this facility is here and is so prepared! (They were busy, expect to wait unless it's serious ! You pay for the high quality care.) Read Less

I am very glad that we have a 24 hour emergency vet clinic here in the capital district. There were some folks there when we arrived who waited a really long time to get seen. I assume it is because they triage based on severity of symptoms / condition.  Thankfully they had a vending machine and hot drinks. More frequent updates would be helpful and as would estimated wait times. That said hey updated me on what was happening and asked permission before taking any major measures. When I got home I realized that they gave me pills instead of liquid form for a cat which a broken jaw. However, my regular vet easily remedied that when we checked in for a follow up visit.Overall a good experience and thankful that they exist. Read Less

I met them under sad circumstances when I lost my dog, whom I had had for 13 years. Today, Just 48 hours after my loss, they sent me a sympathy card with her footprints on it. That gesture made me cry, but it was such a welcome surprise as I continue to grieve the loss of my dog Read Less

I toke my dog to this vet because it was recommended by a friend. They toke extra care of Teddy because he was very nervous. The staff is very thorough and caring individuals. My ok interaction was prompt and efficient. Read Less

Everyone is very nice here. They really love animals and you can tell from how they take care of your pet. Service is a bit slow and appears disorganized. Of course if you are going here it's probably an emergency so be prepared to wait and the cost is more than a vet visit. Read Less

DO NOT TAKE INJURED STRAYS HERE !! My friend found injured wild rabbit and this was the only place that was open. They made him sign some papers and he handed it over to the staff and went to use restroom. By the time he comes back to check on it, they had euthanized it. We were shocked, it wasn't even 2 minutes and my friend was not even informed that rabbit was injured that bad to be euthanized. I wouldn't trust any clinic after this . Read Less

I took my dog here on Christmas Eve 2016 after he had been attacked by a much larger dog. I called them to let them know we were on our way and they took him in immediately. Dr. Ellen Landis was his doctor that night and she was utterly amazing. She spoke to me with such kindness and understanding during some of the scariest moments. She was straight forward in telling me that he was really injured, and that he might not make it. I so appreciate her honesty and compassion amidst all the craziness. She let me ask all my questions, no matter how silly, and made sure I got to see him before surgery. We brought him in around 11PM and she was only supposed to be working until 2AM, but she didn't leave until much later because she had him in emergency surgery. She saved my 5lb dog that night, performing a Chrismukkah miracle and fixing his severe traumatic hernia and closing the multiple bites on his back. I was later told by another patient's owners that there were only 3 emergency vets open within 150 miles that night, and luckily I was at the only one performing surgery. It's been 6 weeks and though he has some scars, he is back to his old crazy, jumping, running self. I look at him everyday in amazement that he survived. I cannot express how grateful I am to everyone at this hospital: doctors, techs, nurses, and administrative staff alike. They saved my best friend that night. Read Less

We brought our ferret Joey in to your hospital 2 yrs. ago, when our local emergency vet clinic would not even see him. We drove 50 miles to get to your hospital. Joey was in terrible pain from what we found out later during surgery was cancer of his adrenal glands. Your Drs. and staff did an amazing job over the weekend of keeping him out of pain until he could see his exotic Dr. on Monday. Unfortunately we had to let him go during the surgery because the cancer was so advanced, but we are so grateful to all who were kind to us and took such excellent care of our boy. Kindness and compassion go a long way when our fur babies are in distress. Blessings to all. Read Less

I wouldn't even give 1 star I paid $325 for us to not have answers I brought my kitten in with high temp not eating or drinking they insisted on a test I didn't want but they were convinced he had feline aids or lukemia of course $89 to find out he was negative for both all I wanted was fluids and something to lower his temp and an answer but we were told maybe this maybe that I called first and was told his condition was grave and he should not wait for vet next day and my vet later informed me I could have waited because it hadn't been 24hrs they knew that but didn't give me the same answer they prey on loving pet owners Read Less

We took our dog to the CDVRH on a Saturday afternoon. The facility is spotless, and the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating. The nurse and veterinarian who treated our dog were knowledgeable, gentle, thorough and kind. I had never had occasion to visit a veterinary ER, and I didn't know what to expect, but they are excellent. Read Less

They took us right in last night, when no vet in Delaware county, schoharie county, and ostego county, wouldn't look at my 4 month old boxer. Because I didn't have any on hand for them, I consider those vet inhumane and animal abuser's. I can't say enough about them , the staff and doc was so understanding and helped me, I will make sure the are paid in full and thank them so much for their help Read Less

Took our pug Sophie in with trouble breathing and terrible shaking. Turned out she had terrible back pain and was shuttering from how much pain she was in. The staff was efficient, so nice & friendly, and our girl was treated with kindness and compassion like it was one of their own. Dr. Gavin sat and spoke with us about her condition with her herniated disks and made sure we completely understood the recovery plan. They were awesome! True professionals and good people. Total thumbs up! Thank you so much for helping our girl be pain free for the night too! Total recommend. Read Less

A cat as hit by a car and rescued from traffic, brought to this hospital, and it was communicated to them that the rescuer wanted to adopt it. They said that the animal would live and had minor injuries, however they killed the cat without even contacting the person who rescued it. They had to call to check on its progress only to be informed that it was murdered, for no reason at all. Please take your business elsewhere, this place has no compassion for animals. Read Less

My 12 year old Aussie has an eye ulcer that is not healing. I was referred to this office and specifically Dr. Lackner. I'm very thankful for Dr. Lackner, Brianna and the several other staff members I have dealt with since making the appointment. I felt so comfortable and so did Willy. He made himself right at home. We know our four legged fur babies are more than just pets and that feeling came through from the entire staff. Thank you! See you in a couple of weeks! Read Less

Last night my Cane Corso was puking blood and after waiting 2 hours at upstate veterinary specialties down the road I decided to give this place a try and I am SO BEYOND glad I did. They got her in very quickly, showed concern and compassion, let me know what was going on the entire time, and the vet was amazing. She gave me all of the options and when I asked her personal opinion she gave it to me straight. I will continue to use them and highly recommend them! Read Less

My family had a very difficult night here last week in having to put our dog down unexpectedly. The doctor and staff were so caring and sincere not just with us but with our dog. It was certainly not the outcome we'd imagined when we got there, but they handled a very difficult situation with sensitivity and professionalism. I would more than recommend the hospital and Dr. Gavin to anyone. Read Less

I brought my cat in for lethargy and came in because It was not busy. My cat was taken care of Immediately which was great. My cat was very anemic so I agreed to have 1 blood Transfusion and hydration IV. I was presented with an estimate of $2214-$ 2774 . I asked what I owed up to this point and it was $550 for just labs & $115 ER visit. At that point I asked how I could bypass items that were not essential on the bill. The vet told me she already got the estimate as low as possible. She told me Euthanasia was acceptable if I that was too much to pay. I love my kitty and was very upset and could not euthanize my sweetness. I think the CDVRH is over priced and prays on pet owners when they are very distraught. The bill is very debatable, the prices for very cheap drugs were horrendous. I paid $50.50 for 0.32 ml of dexamethasone, $25 for 0.14 ml of generic Benadryl! $540.70 for 1 transfusion, $81 blood typing, $121 for cross match ! So 40 ml of blood $742.!! They charged me for 24 hr nursing care at $261 and 17 hr care the next day at $168. Well, the dated receipts indicate time of 13:55 coming in and 14:27 the next day upon leaving. The bill has duplicate charges - 2 critical care panels in 1 day!! Senior panel, 3 - PCV s., $245 for 2 X-rays, 1 fast ultrasound for $65 in addition! Why? The must disturbing part was when I came for pick up and asked for a Rx for Prednisone for treatment and kitty food and was told to go to my own vet. Because I was already 'cashed out'. I said that that would cost me another office fee But they did not care. This is my experience and I feel this place is concerned MOSTLY with $$$. Read Less

It was my first time there. My little pitty bit into am electrical cord and got hurt. My vet wasn't open since it was the weekend. Great place! They immediately got to me and took her back. Friendly and the place was very well kept. Would recommend this place! Awesome doctors. Even though I had to travel about 40 minutes it was well with it and my dog loved them! Read Less

One of my cats managed to ingest a long piece of fabric which caused a linear obstruction in his intestines. He had to go undergo emergency surgery to remove it. The surgery was a success, and after a couple weeks of recovery he is back to normal. I am so grateful for Dr. Landis and everyone else for their expertise and compassion. Thank you so much for being there for us. Read Less

My cat (indoor cat) got out and was sprayed by a skunk. Brought him into this place with a swollen eye and my cat had been crying And in pain at home. We walked in and it was 12 midnight. They immediately told us to get the cat out of the office because they do not have some kind of external ventilation and the place will smell for a week. The vet came out peered into my cats box who was far away and deep in he box and she said "he looks healthy and His eye isn't swollen now." The vet would not examine the cat but told us how to get the skunk smell off. I was afraid for the cats eye and didn't know if there were any other injuries as he might have had a bad encounter with this skunk. The vet would examine him (could have worn gloves, no?) We left feeling patronized (they gave me some brush-off type of answer about what I told them I saw in my cats eye at home) and dismissed. They could not have cared less about the cat that we love but cared very much about the smell of their pretty building. My recommendation is to go elsewhere. They certainly don't deserve the 1 star I had to give this place. Read Less

My pet and I had a great experience working with the Capital District Veterinary Hospital.  We brought our cat in at 4:00 am on a Monday morning thinking that he would need to be euthanized.  Low and behold, the vet probed and found that there was some hope.  They were very upfront, explained all the variables, and the guidance helped us to make a decision to treat our cat.  It was an extremely difficult medical situation and they worked very hard to stabilize and treat him.  During a week's time, there was incredible communication from the vets and staff.  We were welcomed at any time for a visit and never felt like we were in the way, they actually encourage people to visit their pets.  As for the staff, every single person was always friendly and helpful to us, but what's even better is the way they truly care for all the animals.  Over a week's time, I had plenty of interaction there to form my opinion and highly recommend this vet hospital. Read Less

They are the most compassionate people. My sweet angel Emmy had to be taken there due to a tragic accident, not only did they treat her like my child, but they treated me like gold. I can't say enough good about them. I don't think I would have made it through that situation without all their compassion. Thank you. Read Less

We recently took our young dog in to the hospital after a very serious accident. She was in critical condition and there was serious doubt if she would pull through. The staff was amazing, quick to react to everything that needed to be done and very knowledgeable. They went out of their way to comfort us and care for our dog. Thanks to them our doggie is doing great, I can not reccomend them highly enough! Read Less

The staff is very knowledgeable and compassionate. They always go over the treatment options with you and give you the final choice of what treatment you want for your pet. The staff has assisted me with the following: general health check ups and vaccinations for my dogs and guinea pigs, an unexpected guinea pig birth, chronic eye problems with my guinea pig, adopting out guinea pigs, emergency medical problems with my dogs, and obedience assistance. Prices are fair compared to other veterinary clinics. This is a great place to go. Whether you just need an answer to a question over the phone or all inclusive medical exam, they will be there for you. Read Less

We recently had our 11+year old bulldog to sleep they were very sensitive to it. And preformed it in such a nice way. We were/are heartbroken over losing her. But the way they explained it. And how they used an IV. Instead of jabbing her with a needle was very nice. Then we got a bueatiful card in the mail with her paw prints on it. Read Less

On 1/2/16 our sweet little one and a half year old Chihuahua died due to a tragic accident. We were so distraught, I called a friend, living in a city/suburb area and not knowing what to do. I called the hospital and we brought her in, they treated us with such kindness and understanding during our very emotional moment and time. We chose to have her cremated, the staff are wonderful. We received our pup in a beautiful black urn with a spot to put her picture on top, a paw imprint and a beautiful poem. While we waited for her ashes to come back they sent up inked footprints from our fur baby which helped so much. Thank you so much to all the staff especially the woman at the from desk who saw us through it all. I hope you know how much comfort your kindness and understanding brought us during this time, we are forever grateful.Read Less

This hospital showed me they only care about money. They knew my dog was not going to make and they allowed him to go home  only because I didn't have the money to pay for hospitalization. Well...he died that night and they never told me how sick he was, his x rays showed he was very ill. They should be a shame of themselves. I was expecting a call from them the next day and they never called to find out how he was. Read Less

The staff is responsive and the facility is very nice. Two different vets saw our little pup, and had different opinions about the cause of his muscle contractions; one said topical spray, one said rotten food. Regardless of the cause, the staff cared for our dog quickly and gave us pricing before they performed any services. Our dog stayed at the hospital on meds and an IV for about 8hrs. The two office visits and partial day stay cost about $650 total. We greatly appreciate the wonderful care the vets and staff provided our dog. Thank you! Read Less

Did a very good job at explaining our options and managing expectations.  Although they weren't able to save our boy, the staff was very compassionate and understanding and made a very difficult time as bearable as possible. Read Less

I have used this vet for my own animals needs as well as pet clients more recently. All of their hard work and dedication was exceptional! I arrived most recently with a very sick kitty whose owner wasn't available  to make decisions. The vets who worked on the kitty made things easy to understand and allowed me to ask questions. It was extremely helpful! I was able to relay info I received to the kitty's owners. The treatment was very helpful and I was able to take the kitty back to her home with a much better grasp on how to make her comfortable! She had an existing condition that apparently flared up. I was able to get her back on track before her owners arrived home. Fantastic service and so convenient!! Read Less

Would like to thank everyone here... They are extremely caring for you and your pet... We had very bad situation with our Redbone Coonhound having seizures for the first time this Friday night brought him here Saturday and we picked him up tonight... To me they talked to us as if it were there Dog in the same situation! Yes they are expensive but for the cost of bring our Dog home with us at the end is priceless! Copenhagen is now home safe and sound with a long road ahead thanks to there care! Thank you to all the staff! Doctor Blanchette was sympathetic to our needs as well as to Copenhagen's care she not only gave us the best options for Dog but gave us the realistic options that we could afford... Thank you! Read Less

We have a 13 year old pomeranian, and of course in the middle of  the night on a weekend we have a crisis. Our regular vet directed us here in an emergency. He was not breathing well and kept passing out. When we arrived we were immediately greeted and welcomed, our very sick pet was taken by the vet right away. A few basic tests were performed  and the results were not good at all. Dr. Gallo was very compassionate and knowledgable. We discussed a couple of options and chose a course of action, and were able to bring Jasper home the next day. Although he does have advanced cardiac disease he is comfortable and able to be with us for a little while longer. The next day we called and they were so good about getting right back to us and when we went to check on him  Dr. Rogers,  the technicians and office personnel were extremely professional, kind and helpful.  I would definitely recommend this facility. Thank you all. Read Less

I went here twice.  Both times they tried to convince me to leave my cat overnight for "tests," and pressed me to do this even when I  patiently explained my pet gets very stressed away from home.  The first time this happened they were pushing overnight tests as soon as I walked in the door.  Instead of  examining my cat, they were like "you can just leave your cat here and pick her up later..."  This set my scam alarm off.  I took my cat and just walked out without seeing the vet.  The second time was more urgent.  My cat was having a serious episode of vomiting and very lethargic behavior.  After a long wait in a mostly empty waiting room, the vet saw my cat.  She said she was in shock and that she would give her a shot to counter the reaction.  Then she left me and my cat  sitting in an exam room and never returned.  After an hour, I went to find her.  The staff avoided acknowledging me.  They were literally walking past me pretending I was not there.  I guess they could not deal with the incredible onslaught of one other customer.  Everyone in the office seem to be pretending to be preoccupied by something.  No one said "can I help you?"   I discovered my vet was in the process of seeing the only other customer.  She had just abandoned my cat.  How long does it take to give a cat a shot?  When I got her to finally treat the cat, they kept me waiting around -- for hours.  I got home at around 5:00 AM, after walking in the door around 12:30 am.  They tried to convince me to leave my cat overnight.  When I refused to let them keep my cat, an assistant just kept coming back and talking to me as if I had agreed to leave her.  She was either totally not paying attention or attempting used car salesman tactics.  I kept repeating that I was not leaving her.  Boy was I glad when I finally got out of there.  I saw another vet a few days later and he told me they had diagnosed her wrong.  I will avoid this place even if I have to drive miles out of my way. Read Less

Our cat had a urinary blockage late last night and the staff did a great job of diagnosing, testing and not gouging my wallet. They examined him, got a urinary sample via ultrasound, gave him antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids. The total bill was $239... much less than I expected. Despite being busy, the wait wasn't long. The longest part of the wait was in the analysis of his urine. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the other clients in the waiting room were very supportive of each other and whatever emergency their pets were experiencing. A great sense of family there, in and out of the examining room. Even though the clinic is 45 minutes from our home, if I had another emergency with my pets, I'd go without hesitation. Read Less

Yes, they get you for $105 when you walk in the door, but I believe it was money well spent. My cat has urinary blocking issues. On Sunday he started displaying the signs of blockage so we took him here. Sure enough our suspicions were correct and he was blocked. It didn't take very long to be seen and the vet and techs were superb! We saw Dr. Gavin who apologized for us having to wait a little while (the cat was taken back first). She explained our options, what surgery would entail for our boy, and the risks. We decided to get him unblocked and would talk about surgery with our normal vet. She was very supportive. One of the techs came in soon after with an estimate and allowed us to turn down xrays (as the cat has had them before for the same issue). Since they weren't going to be open on Tuesday morning, we decided to pick him up on Monday morning and transfer him to his normal vet (Dr. Gavin also explained that would save us some money). She let me see my boy before we left, which I really appreciated. On Monday, we arrived early and another vet came out to the lobby and sat with us to let us know how our boy did overnight. I didn't catch her name (I think it was Dr. Pressler) but she was also wonderful. She also told us they would give him something to calm him for the car ride and gave him a long IV so it would be easier for his vet to administer drugs (our cat is not friendly at the vet). I was so impressed with how nice the two vets we spoke to were. They are so much better than my normal vet. Our bill was higher than it would have been at our usual vet, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and it was worth it to be seen on a Sunday night. I absolutely recommend this clinic. Read Less

In my experience this place is a typical vet practice where they try to bleed you for every dime.  I have a dog that gets sick quite a bit.  I know the symptoms and the course of treatment.  Today I took my guy and after a lot of waiting and tests he was diagnosed with what I thought it was.  Ok, fine, at least I know it is nothing new.  The doctor, however, told me I should admit him so they could keep an eye on him.  After 11 years this doesn't work on me - I've seen this a dozen times.  When I told him that wasn't necessary he said, "Well, you could bring him home but he could die."  Scam artist trying to play to my fears and capitalizing on the love I have for my dog.  He also did that thing where he mentions numbers and levels like I'm a vet and can understand what it all means.  What I was able to follow was that he was trying to make the situation seem serious and dire when it wasn't.  How could a dire diagnosis be treated with Pepcid?  Which is what I was told to get.Also, I overheard him speaking with a specialist and making an appointment for my dog....until he realized he had the wrong dog.  Then he kept calling my dog a female when he is a male.  Normally that wouldn't bother me but after he mixed up my dog with another patient I was no longer trusting that this doctor knew what was going on.  The WORST part, though, is they are the only game in town after hours and on holidays.  So, we are all screwed.  If you are the only game in town you don't need to bleed your customers.  You have a captive audience.  Be fair and honest.  I did not feel my experience today was either. Read Less

We were very unhappy with our experience here.  We had Dr. Tuffey and her tableside manner is about as warm as ice cream in Alaska.  It's one of "those" typical emergency places where you take your animal in with a broken nail and they want to do exploratory surgery.  I'm not going to put my animal through that to line someone's pockets. Read Less

This was a terrible experience. The veterinarian was very surly and did not explain what she wanted to do clearly at all. The receptionist was incompetent and was brand new trying to explain/justify why we were being asked to pay $1,800 to treat a dehydrated cat. I just don't understand it. They make you wait for hours on old church pews, the vet was cranky, the receptionist was an idiot, and then you first bring us an estimate with mistakes on it. The second estimate is then $800 higher, but that one is correct. It was unprofessional and I would absolutely not trust them with our pets. Read Less

I have pet rabbits so this place is not ideal for them. I've only ever had to take them when they get sick when their normal vet is closed, and as a last resort. I usually call ahead to let them know I'm coming with a rabbit, and pretty much every time they tell me to drive to Saratoga, or Cornell or Tufts University. I tell them that rabbits don't do well with long distance travel and that all I need is for them to give her some fluids and possibly gut motility medicine. Which is on our records as having worked in the past. Rabbits commonly get GI stasis which can cause death over night (basically the content of their stomach stops moving). One night I had to go with my bunny and they told me I would have a three hour wait. I had to plead with the receptionist/vet tech to have my rabbit to be even seen by their vet. She then had the audacity to tell me, "You need to see your regular vet and make sure this doesn't keep happening". I told her that my rabbit regularly sees the vet and that she's on preventative measures, we always try to restart her stomach on our own at home before deciding to go to the emergency vet. I told my regular vet what the woman said and she said she had no right to say that and that I should complain. Moral of the story is, this place is good for dogs and cats. Occasionally they have an exotic vet on call. I'm glad they are open at odd hours, but their receptionist/tech was rude and uncaring. Read Less

First off this place is amazing. Dr. Tuffey and her wonderful crew saved my little yorkie's life. He came to the clinic after jumping and landing on his head. When he arrived, he was  unresponsive and in respiratory distress. They proficiently and vigilantly brought my guy back! They were so professional and compassionate, I just can't say enough about this fabulous clinic.Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Read Less

I've been here twice.  Once in 2009 when my beloved Boxer needed to pass over the rainbow bridge and the other time in August 2012 when my dear sweet nosy rescue Dobie-Pittie got herself stung by something when we were playing at the baseball fields and had an allergic reaction.  By 11pm her left eye was 30% swollen shut.  I knew it was an allergic reaction, but I didn't know how to dose the benedryl, so off to the ER Vet we went.  We were promptly seen and the Vet talked to me about her findings and gave her an injectable dose of benedryl and told me to continue her on oral benedryl.  We were in and out in less than 30 minutes.  They also fax the chart from the ER to your regular vet so you don't have to worry about getting that record to the regular vet.  The only thing I didn't like is they took my pup in the back to examine her without me.  I wasn't keen on that.  Next time I'll insist that I go with her. Read Less

I am sorry to say our experience was very negative. We went there on a Sunday with a very sick dog. After 12 hours and $1400. we left without a diagnosis and with no improvement in our dog's condition. The vet not only lacked compassion or interest in the case but was incompetent. We were actually sent home with another dog's x rays!!! Luckily we took him to our family vet the next day and he was aggressively treated and is now fine. I would NEVER go there again. Read Less

Went a couple months ago when our dog ate a bunch of dark chocolate.Wait was reasonable, staff were friendly. Vet gave good enough advice although he didn't believe us and was skeptical about our claim of how much chocolate the dog had eaten. Services were reasonable enough considering. Read Less

We took our new dog here the night we got him. I don't want to get TOO graphic, but basically there was diarrhea, then diarrhea and blood, then what seemed like pure blood coming out of the dog. At midnight, the only place we could go to was the emergency clinic. If you have a cat, you can expect 5 star treatment at this place. Several cats that had come in after us were seen before our dog. A nurse was constantly coming out to the waiting room to check on the cats and admit them quickly. Another couple brought in their dog after us, and because they are "regulars" their dog was given attention before ours. After more than a half hour, someone finally came over to see our dog and examine the stool sample we had brought. It was an hour before he was seen. As it turned out, he didn't have anything life threatening. It was a case of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis spurred by the stress of being in a new home. When we finally did see the vet, she was very kind and compassionate and did her best not to worry us. They hydrated him and gave us some medicine to help his intestines unwind a bit. Our puppy was almost completely back to normal the next day, so the story has a happy ending. I really do wish they would have given us more reassurance as we were sitting there waiting to be seen, or at least told us why they were admitting all of the cats before us. As far as I know, this is the only emergency vet in our area, so we had very little choice but to bring our dog here. I wish there were other options. Read Less

We took our new dog here the night we got him. I don't want to get TOO graphic, but basically there was diarrhea, then diarrhea and blood, then what seemed like pure blood coming out of the dog. At midnight, the only place we could go to was the emergency clinic. If you have a cat, you can expect 5 star treatment at this place. Several cats that had come in after us were seen before our dog. A nurse was constantly coming out to the waiting room to check on the cats and admit them quickly. Another couple brought in their dog after us, and because they are "regulars" their dog was given attention before ours. After more than a half hour, someone finally came over to see our dog and examine the stool sample we had brought. It was an hour before he was seen. As it turned out, he didn't have anything life threatening. It was a case of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis spurred by the stress of being in a new home. When we finally did see the vet, she was very kind and compassionate and did her best not to worry us. They hydrated him and gave us some medicine to help his intestines unwind a bit. Our puppy was almost completely back to normal the next day, so the story has a happy ending. I really do wish they would have given us more reassurance as we were sitting there waiting to be seen, or at least told us why they were admitting all of the cats before us. As far as I know, this is the only emergency vet in our area, so we had very little choice but to bring our dog here. I wish there were other options. Read Less

If you're having an off-hours pet emergency, see their website above for hours.  They are only open something like 5pm to 8am on weekdays, and 24 hours on weekends.I don't have a lot to go on -- I only visited them once. It was in the middle of the night, and they were able to help my cat.  I left a happy customer.Hmm... I'm getting an eerie feeling that I researched this place on Yelp before I took my cat there.  Now there's no reviews, at all, for it?  That seems odd. Read Less